Spain has ordered a formal investigation into major social media platforms over the alleged spread of artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material, escalating its crackdown on online harm and child protection.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Tuesday that prosecutors had been directed to investigate X, Meta and TikTok over the circulation of the illegal content.
In a post on his official account on X, Sánchez condemned what he described as the platforms’ failure to adequately safeguard minors.
“These platforms are undermining the mental health, dignity, and rights of our children,” he wrote.
“The state cannot allow this. The impunity of these giants must end.”
The move marks one of the strongest interventions yet by the Spanish government against global technology companies accused of failing to control harmful content amplified by emerging artificial intelligence tools.
Earlier this month, Sánchez unveiled a series of measures aimed at tackling online abuse and strengthening child protection frameworks. Among the proposals is a ban on access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16, a policy the government argues is necessary to curb exposure to harmful and exploitative material.
The investigation is expected to examine whether the platforms violated Spanish laws designed to protect minors and prevent the dissemination of illegal content, particularly material generated using AI technologies.
Madrid’s action adds to growing pressure across Europe on tech companies to tighten oversight of online content, especially as AI tools make it easier to create and distribute harmful material at scale.
Boluwatife Enome
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